Typography - Week 6

18.02.2016 (Week 6)

Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography

Lecture
First of all, we have a discussion and sharing sessions towards our type expression task. Each of us sharing our final outcomes and explain the rationale behind the words. Also, we giving out our suggestion and point of views. Lastly, Mr.Vinod briefly explained for our upcoming task, which is ad expression. He then opened a Q and A section for us to ask questions directly in the class.

Task 2 (10%): Ad Expression
You are required in this task to express the headline of a black and white advertisement for Tiger Balm. The ad must express to the type the inherent meaning of the words in context of the Ad.

The copy for the Ad is as follows:

Headline: FEEL THE HEAT!

Copy: Tiger Balm, the world’s leading analgesic remedy that works where it hurts. A name that has been trusted by generations to provide care, healing and comfort for nearly 100 years. With its unique formulation specially made with herbal ingredients which are proven safe and effective, Tiger Balm’s healing properties and soothing relief for aches and pains restore balance to modern hectic lifestyles.

Logo & Product:

You may use minor graphical elements like lines or dots (if relevant or needed) to aid in the expression of the headline. This is not a visually driven Ad, so do not give undue attention to the product or logo, emphasis is on the headline and copy.

Black and white Press Ad.

Newspaper: TheSun
Size: 128 w x 178 h
Outline around Ad: 0.5 pt stroke width

Mode: Black & White

Marking Criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to express the meaning or action of the headline through your designs. The designed headline in the type expression task must showcase sensitivity and creativity in the choice of font, its relevancy and its suitability in context of the Ad. It must reflect the inherent meaning of the headline. You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration, research capability, ability to chronologically document your process and reflect on your journey. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

First of all, i found some pictures that related to advertisement

I found out that a lot of advertisement mainly emphasize on its typeface and arrangement. For example, the poster below used a delicious and sweet kind of font on the word "sweet" to represent their food. Also, they enlarged the picture of pancake in order to attract the customer.

 And this is the example of tiger balm advertisement 

After that, I choose some appropriate fonts to represent my headline "Feel The Heat"

First - C.A. Gatintas. It's like a fire burning, to represent the word "Heat"

Second - Edwardian Script ITC. It's a little bit sexy and passionate font. 

I try to arrange it in illustrator, but it doesn't look nice. Also, I am still figuring out on how to put the logo picture on illustrator.  

Feedback
Arrange it nicely. Spacing is not good, it looks imbalance. Chose of font is fine. 

Reflection 

Experience: I experienced the difficulty on how to arrange my word in a neat and readable way. Also, I am still figuring out how to put the logo on my illustrator.

Observation: I observed that every advertisements are mainly focusing on their arrangement, which is my weakness.

Findings: I found that arrangement and choosing an appropriate typeface are important for this task. I will try to improve it as to bring out a decent work. 

Typography - Week 5

11.02.2016 (Week 5)
Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography

Lecture
No lecture. Chinese New Year break.

Type expression (20%)

Task 1: Identify 4 words that describe you. You will then express typographically the meaning of these words without the aid of a visual. You are only allowed to manipulate the type to express the inherent meaning of the chosen words.

Draw two 7cm squares on an A4 graph paper using a pencil. Ensure the boxes are centered vertically and horizontally in the A4 paper. Do the same for two other sheets of paper to obtain 4 squares in total.

Draw and express you respective words. Upon approval digitize your artworks using Adobe Illustrator and print them out. Update your eportfolio throughout the task and ensure every aspect of the process is documented methodically.

Marking criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to capture the meaning or action of the chosen words through your designs. The designed words in the type expression task must showcase sensitivity in balance, proportion and composition. It must reflect the inherent meanings of the words. You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work.

(2-3 weeks)

0.5 stroke width

10 pt, 1.15 spacing

Final Outcome

Calm - Verdana

For the word calm, I used the Verdana font as it brings out a very calm feeling, it is very straight without any patterns just like a calm person will do. 

Shy - Garamond

For the word shy, I used Garamond font as a shy person do not like to be outstanding, they will rather be quiet in front of strangers. The font looks ordinary and unremarkable just like a shy person's feeling. Also, they will be hiding up in front of crowded, that is why the letter "hy" are smaller than letter "s"

Lazy - Monotype Corsiva 

For the word lazy, I used Monotype Corsiva because there are a lot of curvy on the letter. It brings up the laziness of the word. Also, I arranged it freely as a lazy person will do. They like to take a nap no matter where is it. 

Playful - AR Hermann

For the word playful, I used AR Hermann font because it brings out a very playful feeling. We can see it on children playground or toys. They used this kind of font to attract children. 

Feedback

Decent work. The word "lazy" can be express more for example make the letter "y" lay down. The word "shy" had distorted because I added outline.

Reflection

Experience: I had fun while choosing the appropriate font for my personality. I learned some new fonts for example AR Hermann, San Serif, Garamond and etc as I applied on my words.

Observation: I was brain stuck while choosing the appropriate fonts because some of the fonts are look exactly the same to me. 

Findings: I found that I have the difficulty on differentiate some of the fonts for example Verdana and Garamond. It looks quite similar to me. Also, I have to improve the way I arrange my words in order to express out my feeling. 

Typography - Week 4

04.02.2016 (Week 4)
Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography

Lecture
Mr Vinod started off by guiding us the right way to do our ePortfolio as a lot of students do it wrongly. After that, we have a discussion and sharing sessions towards our second task. Each of us shared our final outcome and explained the rationale of our font designs. Also, we giving out feedback and suggestion. Lastly, Mr.Vinod explaining the types of fonts from slide presentation and giving out our third task which is designing fonts based on our personality.

Type expression (20%)

Task 1: Identify 4 words that describe you. You will then express typographically the meaning of these words without the aid of a visual. You are only allowed to manipulate the type to express the inherent meaning of the chosen words.

Draw two 7cm squares on an A4 graph paper using a pencil. Ensure the boxes are centered vertically and horizontally in the A4 paper. Do the same for two other sheets of paper to obtain 4 squares in total.

Draw and express you respective words. Upon approval digitize your artworks using Adobe Illustrator and print them out. Update your eportfolio throughout the task and ensure every aspect of the process is documented methodically.

Marking criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to capture the meaning or action of the chosen words through your designs. The designed words in the type expression task must showcase sensitivity in balance, proportion and composition. It must reflect the inherent meanings of the words. You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work.

(2-3 weeks)

0.5 stroke width

10 pt, 1.15 spacing

First of all, I started off by referring the examples that Mr.Vinod posted on Facebook

Also, I did some research based on words design 

Words design can actually describe a personality. For example the word "Playful" as shown below

Therefore, I take four of my personalities as my type expression

SHY

LAZY

PLAYFUL

CALM

These are my sketches before proceeding to final outcome.

 Feedback
The exercise requires you to use "existing font"to express the meaning of the word. You cannot create or distort the font. You can choose your font from the font folio pack that provided. Choose the appropriate font and arrange it in an unique way.

Reflection 

Experience: I experienced the difficulty on drawing again. I draw only the four personalities of mine on my sketches without trying out other words. 

Observation: I observed that designing fonts based on the words itself was fun. It was much more easier than designing my name. Also, I observed that I have some difficulty on understand the task requirement.

Finding: I found that I have to be more creative and think out of the box. I want the words matching with my font I chose and arrange it meaningfully. 

Typography - Week 3

28.01.2016 (Week 3)
Go Yin Nee (300 491 531)
Typography
Task 2 - Type design

Lecture 
This is an informal lecture which Mr.Vinod started off by asking us to show our final outcome of designing letter "O". He briefly go through everyone's font and guided us on how to draw it correctly. After that, he teaches us how to use adobe illustrator. He demonstrated in front by using one of the classmate's laptop and we followed him step by step. Also, we are encourage to ask question when we can't follow up. Lastly, Mr.Vinod required students to practice and learn up most of the things he taught in class so that he can briefly guided us one by one.

Task 2 (15%): Type Design
You are to design a number of alphabets and punctuations, as determined by the teacher. You will begin by sketching and exploring a minimum of 3 options.

The sketches of the alphabets are to be submitted on A4 graph paper for selection. As always, you will understand, analyse and reflect on the knowledge acquired during the allotted weeks for the task in your ePortfolio.

Starting with the letter “o” design a string of alphabets of similar characteristics. The subsequent letters must spell your name and therefore the characteristics of the letters must represent your personality.

There are many more resources out there you may read, please do if you have the time.

The videos below should be viewed at a later stage of the task, when students are more knowledgeable and ready to digitize their letters.

Marking criteria: You will be judged on your creativity; the aesthetics of your letter and how consistent are they with regard to their character or personality – do they look like a family of characters. You will be judged on whether you have made the appropriate research and analysis of other typefaces, whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Duration: 2 weeks
Deadline: week 3

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Type expression (20%)Task 1: Identify 6 words that describe you. You will then express typographically the meaning of these words without the aid of a visual. You are only allowed to manipulate the type to express the inherent meaning of the chosen words.

Draw two 7cm squares on an A4 graph paper using a pencil. Ensure the boxes are centered vertically and horizontally in the A4 paper. Do the same for two other sheets of paper to obtain 6 squares in total.

Draw and express you respective words. Upon approval digitize your artworks using Adobe Illustrator and print them out. Update your eportfolio throughout the task and ensure every aspect of the process is documented methodically.

Marking criteria: Your work will be judged on whether you have been able to capture the meaning or action of the chosen words through your designs. The designed words in the type expression task must showcase sensitivity in balance, proportion and composition. It must reflect the inherent meanings of the words. You will be judged on whether you have demonstrated critical thinking and exploration. This evidence must be visible in your postings in the eportfolio and your in-class process work. 

Type design

Final outcome

Final outcome - Adobe Illustrator

I chose this letter "O" to present one of my personalities. As you can see the fonts, it is simple and ordinary, without any patterns or too much curvy applying on it. It represents my personality as a very simple and shy in front of strangers. I don't like being too outstanding or extraordinary as I am shy. Yet, I always hoping to get some attentions from others especially the people I care about. As the fonts I designed, there is a stroke coming out in my alphabet "y", "i", and "n" . It shows that even though I am shy, but I am still seeking for a little attention. Also, the fonts show a little playful and lovely. It represents my personality as I am also a little playful person and I like to tease my friends and family. Therefore, the design of my name have represent my personality as a shy person in front of strangers but playful in front of friends and family. 

Feedback
From classmates - letter "i" and "n" should be separated because will get confused. Maybe should have gap between all the letters. But it looks lovely when the letter stick together. Also it looks like Disney font.
                             
Reflection

Experience: Learning the different fonts allow me to gain more knowledge and understand that every fonts bring a definition and meaning behind. Also, I experiencing the difficulty on using Adobe Illustrator when Mr.Vinod demonstrate in class. I used quite sometimes to explore it. I am glad I learn a new skill from typography class.

Observation: I observed that my designed still lack of creativity, I am not satisfied with my final outcome. Also, my drawing on Ai(Adobe Illustrator) is not good enough as I find it a little messy compare with others work.

Finding: I found that I still need to explore more about Adobe Illustrator in order to draw out a better font. Also, creativity always my weakness on designing something. Perhaps I need to do more research before proceeding to my task.